The Aldrich Family was one of radio's longest running and popular family situation comedies, debuting in 1939 and leaving the air in 1953. The opening of the progam had its famous line of Henry Aldrich's mother calling him home with "Hen-reeeeeeeeeeeee! Hen-ree Al-drich!" and Henry responding with "Com-ing, Mother!" Henry was a good natured boy making his way through adolescence and his relationships with family, friends, and neighbors.
The Henry character was a minor one in the Broadway play "What a Life" in 1938. He was played by Ezra Stone, who would be associated with the Aldrich role throughout the run of the series, and beyond. Other actors played Henry when Stone was in the service and at periods of the program.
The series began after being a popular regular feature on the variety programs of Rudy Vallee and Kate Smith. Then, in summer of 1939, The Aldrich Family was the summer replacement for Jack Benny. It became a fixture on radio after that successful run.
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These recordings are part of the Joe Hehn Memorial
Collection. Mr. Hehn (1931-2020) was a pioneering collector of radio
recordings when the hobby emerged in the 1960s. Digitizing his
collection of reel tapes and discs is the effort of a wide range of
North American volunteers, and includes assistance of some international
collectors. The groups supporting this effort with their funds, time,
technology and skills are the Old Time Radio Researchers and a small
group of transcription disc preservationists who refer to themselves as
the "The Knights of the Turning Table."
